Of English and lost languages

Our English is vanishing too quickly! Fortunately 2 Canadians have arrived on the camp so that might help us maintain some decent grammar. Jim works, mainly, with expats from other countries. So he experiences English with a twist all of the time -- and the twists are always different!

For most people on the camp, English is their second or third language so it's very poor. For the Nigerians, it's definitely their second language and it's been quite altered. After listening to it for three months, here's my basic analysis of Nigerian English: many folks have a fairly good vocabulary, but I would call it King James English. This comes from the missionaries who brought in King James Bibles and started schools and churches. Most churches still use KJs versions of the Bible, in fact. So, vocabulary includes: provoked, annoyed, disturbed, scarce, ...

After being sick last week, when I was walking a worker said, "Madame, you be scarce dees days." Translation -- I haven't seen you lately! Consistently, they never are "worried" but they are always "disturbed." Lucy talked of needing to buy clothing for her mother because she needed to "cover her mother's nakedness" -- definitely from the Old Testament, aye?

So, I can use words like marvelous or beautiful, not just "good" or "nice." But, the real struggle is the lack of grammar and syntax. Key words are missing in every sentence. "Helping verbs" truly are a help but they're rarely used. Tenses are mixed up in the same sentence. And I don't know why but everyone mixes up "he" and "she" -- for instance, sometimes calling their mother "she" and then "he" in the same sentence.

So, imagine Prince, trying to learn Chris Tomlin's song "Indescribable." I'd written out the words for him and explained most of them to him. So, I heard him sing, "non ken fattum." That's "none can fathom." I asked him if he knew what that meant. "No, Mom." Imagine the tough time I had not laughing when I explained that it meant that no one can understand/comprehend!!!

Jim's in Geneva. I fly all night tonight and join him tomorrow evening. Then it's a week in Paris and 5 days in Antibes (between Nice and Cannes). No shipment at our door, yet! 'gotta run to the gym. I'm late for my trainer. He will be annoyed or disturbed or something!